Automobile safety bumper



April 13, 193 7.

N. l.; JoHNsoN AUTOMOBILE vSAFETY BUMBER Filed Aug. 27, 193e 2 Sheets-Sheet l d/ '/h' /J M Z9 '7 36 l INVENTOR.

A/o/:H L. Jam/50M BY 2 l ,n-o, ATTORNEY.

April 13, 1937. N. L.. JoHNsoN AUTOMOBILE SAFETY BUMBER Filed Aug. 2'7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENT OR. /l/OAH L. Jwm BY ,QW

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 13, 1937 s claims.

The invention relates to front and rear bumpers or extensions to motor vehicles.

It is well known that numerous persons have suffered death and severe injury as a result of head-on collisions of motor vehicles, and as a result of motor vehicles colliding head-on with obstructions such as street carloading platforms, and the like.

Therefore, an important object o'f the inven- '10 tion is to provide simple, efcient and practical means adapted to be attached to the front ends of motor vehicles, whereby when a motor vehicle collides with another vehicle, or with an obstruction, the line of travel of said vehicle is adaptedv to be divertedvand prevent head-on contact of said vehicle with the other vehicle, or other obstruction.

Other objects of the invention are to provide means adapted to divert the line of travel of a vehicle which collides witheither the rear or side of a motor vehicle having the invention attached thereto; and to provide means particularly adapted to lessen the usual hazards of driving and riding in motor vehicles. Still other objects are made apparent by reference to the drawings, and the hereinafter description.

The invention resides in the combination, arrangement of the parts and in the details of the construction, as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a motor vehicle having the invention incorporated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a plan-'view of the front bumper and showing the arm partly broken away;

f Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the same;

the arms partly broken away;

Fig. 5 isa rear elevational view of the rear bumper;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the rear bumper, with' Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the front bumper with parts broken away; and

Fig. 7 is a frontelevational View of the portion of the bumper shown in Fig. 6. j

In the preferred construction of the invention I provide the front bumper I comprising I2, I3, and I4, and I2', I3' and I4' in which are rotatably mounted the vertical rollers I5, I6, and I1, and I5', I6', and I1' whose outer and front sides I8 and I8' extend outwardly from the front surfaces I9 and 20 of the plates 2 and 3. Each roller is tubular and has therein the cylindrical block 2| which may be formed from any suitable resilient material such as rubber, or like material. Extending through each block 2l lis the vertical shaft 22 whose upper and lower ends 23 and 24 are rotatablymounted in the rubber 'bearings 25 and 26 in the plates 2 and 3.

The center verticalroller 2I isv rotatably mounted in the slot 28 formed in the inner ends 4 and 5 of the plates 2 and 3. The roller 211s tubular and has xed therein the resilient cylindrical block 29, formed from rubber or other suitable resilient material. through which extends A Athe vertical shaft 30 whose upper and lower ends 3! and 32 are rotatably mounted in the rubber bearings 33 and 34.'

The lower edges. 35 and 36, of 3, are horizontal, and the upper edges 31 and 38, of the plates, are inclined downwardly and outwardly.

Extending rearwardly and in horizontal alignment with the rollers I6, I'I, I6', I1 and 21 are the horizontal braces 40, 4 I, 40', 4I', and 42. A

The rear ends of the braces 40 and 40' having. integrally connected therewith the extensions 43 and 44, which pass throughthe slots 45 and 46, in the plate I0, and are attached, as by the bolts* 41, to the vfront ends of the side frame members 48 and 49, of the motor vehicle II.

The rear bumper 59 is formed somewhat similar to the front bumper I and comprises the forwardly and outwardly inclined plates 5I and 52 having theirfinner ends xed to each other as bythe bolt 53 and havingthe horizontal plate 54 xed to their outer ends 55 and 56, as by the bolts 5I'.,'nv

lThe vertical rollers 58, 59 and 60, and 58', 59' and 60' arerotatably mounted in the slots 6I 62, and 63, and 6I', 62', and 63' in the plates 5I and 52. Each roller comprises the tube 64 having therein the resilient cylindrical block65 having extending therethrough the vertical shaft 66 having its upper and lower ends 6l and 68 mounted in the rubber bearings '69 and I8. The center vertical roller 'II is mounted in the slot 'I2 formed in the inner ends of the plates 5I and 52 and comprises the tube 'I3 having therein theV resilient cylindrical block 'I4 having extending therethrough the vertical shaft 'I5 having its upper and lower ends 'I6 and 'I'I mounted in the rubber bearingl. The outer surface of the rollers 58, 59, and 68, and 53',

the plates 2 and 59', 60' and 1| extend outwardly from the rear and outer surfaces of the plates 5| and 52'.'

The braces 89, 8|, 80', 8|', and BZ/extend horizontally between the plates 5|, 52 and/the plate 54. The braces and 80' have integrally connected with their front ends the/extensions 83 and 84 which pass through the/slots 85 and 86 in plate 54 and are connected, as by the bolts 8l, to the rear ends of the side frame members 48 and 49 of the motor vehicle Fixed to the outer ends of the plate I0, as by the rivets 88, are the front ends 89 and 90 of the arms 9| and 92 which extend rearwardly of the motor vehicle and under the running boards 93 and 94. The rear ends 95-and 96, of the armsA 9| and 92, are fixed, as by the rivets 91, to the outer ends of the plate 54. The outer edges 98 and 99, ofthe arms 9| and 92, extend outwardly from the running boards and are retained in xed position as by the brace rods |09 and |0| which are xed to the arms 9| and 92, running boards 93 and 94 and side frame members 48 and 49 of the motor vehicle The front ends of the arms 9i and 92 are curved outwardly at |02 and |03 to provide sufficient space for movement of the front wheels of the motor vehicle The plates 5|, 52 and 54, of the rear bumper, are inclined downwardly and outwardly, and the upper edge of the plate 54 has therein the groove |04 to provide sufficient space to permit opening and closing the usual truck door of the motor vehicle An advantage of the invention is that when the motor vehicle collides head-on with another vehicle, or an obstruction, the line of travel of the vehicle will be diverted, as by the plates 2 and 3, and the rollers |5, I6, I5', |'6, and 21, whereby great injury and harm may be prevented the vehicle and its occupants because the vehicle will not be suddenly stopped. Also, the plates 5| and 52, and the rollers therein will divert lthe line of travel of a vehicle which collides with the vehicle |I.

It is, therefore, apparent that I have invented a useful structure, which embodies the features of advantages enumerated. While I have, in the present instance, shown and described preferred embodiments of the invention, or modications thereof, various changes may be made in the general form and arrangement of the preferred parts described without departing from the invention. For this reason I do not limit myself to the details of the parts, or materials, or the size and shape thereof, as set forth, but desire to state that I feel at liberty to make such changes and alterations, as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

What I claim as new andl desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. An automobile front bumper comprising a pair ofrearwardly and outwardly inclined plates having their inner ends fixed to each other, a plurality of spaced apart vertical rollers rotatably mounted in said plates and having their outer l surfaces extending outwardly and forwardly of the outer surfaces of said plates, a horizontal plate extending transversely of the automobile and being xed to said rst mentioned plates, braces extending between said first mentioned plates and said second mentioned plates and in horizontal alignment with said rollers, means to x the bumper to the automobile, a pair of arms xed to the outer ends of the bumper and extending rearwardly beneath the running boards of the automobile, the outer edges of said arms extending outwardly of the outer edges of said running boards, a rear bumper comprising a pair of forwardly and outwardly inclined plates having their inner ends xed to each other, a plurality of vertical rollers being rotatably mounted in said last mentioned plates, a horizontal plate fixed to the outer ends of said last mentioned plates, means to plurality of spaced apart rollers rotatably mounted insaid plates and having their outer surfaces extending outwardly and forwardly of the outer surfaces of said plates, a plate being fixed to saidl rst mentioned plates, braces extending between said rst mentioned plates and said second mentioned plates and in horizontal alignment with said rollers, means to x the bumper to the automobile, a pair of arms fixed to the outer ends of the bumper and extending rearwardly beneath the running boards of the automobile, the outer edges of said arms extending outwardly of the outer edges of said running boards, a rear bumper comprising a pair of forwardly and outwardly inclined plates having their inner ends fixed to each other, a pluralityof vertical rollers being rotatably mounted in said last mentioned plates, a horizontal plate fixed to the outer ends of said last mentioned plates, means to x said rear bumper to the automobile, the rear ends of said plates and said second mentioned plates and in horizontal alignment with said rollers, means to fix the bumper to the automobile, a pair of arms fixed to the outer ends of the bumper and extending rearwardly beneath the running boards of the automobile, the outer edges of said arms extending outwardly of the outer edges of said running boards, a rear bumper comprising a pair of forwardlyand outwardly inclined plates having their inner ends xed to each other, a plurality of vertical rollers being rotatably mounted in said last mentioned plates, a horizontal plate fixed to the outer ends of said last mentioned plates, means to fix said rear bumper to the automobile, the rear ends of said arms being xed to said rear bumper.

4. An automobile front bumper comprising a pair of rearwardly and outwardly inclined plates having their inner ends fixed to each other, a plurality of spaced apart rollers rotatably mounted in said plates, a plate being fixed to said rstmentioned plates, means to fix the bumper to the automobile, a pair of arms fixed to the outer ends of the bumper and extending rearwardly beneath the running boards of the automobile, the outer edges of said arms extending outwardly of the outer edges 'of said running boards, a rear bumper comprising a pair of forwardly and outwardly inclined plates having their inner ends xed to each other, a plurality of vertical rollers being rotatably mounted in said last mentioned plates, a horizontal plate xed to the outer ends of said last mentioned plates, means to fix said rear bumper to the automobile, the rear ends of said arms being ixed to said rear bumper.

5, An automobile bumper including a' pair of rearwardly and outwardly inclined plates, and a plurality of vertical rollers rotatably mounted in said plates, each of said rollers comprising a tube and a cylindrical resilient block in said tube,

15 and means to xsaid bumper to the front end of the automobile.

'6. An automobile bumper including a pair o! inclined plates, and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in said plates, each of said rollers com prlsing a tube and a cylindrical' resilient block in said tube, and means to ix said bumper to the front end of the automobile.

7. An automobile bumper including a pair of rearwardly and outwardly inclined plates, and a plurality of vertical rollers rotatably mounted in said plates, each of said rollers comprising a tube and a cylindrical resilient block in said tube.

8. An automobile bumper including a pair of inclined plates, and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in said plates, each of said rollers comprising a tube and a cylindrical resilient block in said tube, I

NOAH L. JOHNSON. 

